Five people die from flesh-eating bacteria in Louisiana coastal waters

The Louisiana Department of Health has issued a public warning after nine cases and five deaths from Vibrio vulnificus, a rare "flesh-eating" bacterial infection, were reported in 2026. This represents a sharp rise from the state's annual average of one death. All nine cases involved patients with underlying health conditions who exposed open wounds to seawater. Health officials urge beachgoers to avoid warm saltwater or brackish water if they have cuts, and to avoid eating raw shellfish.

Louisiana Vibrio vulnificus outbreak

• ▪All nine reported Vibrio vulnificus cases in Louisiana in 2026 required hospitalization and were linked to individuals entering seawater with open wounds.
• ▪The Louisiana Department of Health reported nine cases and five deaths from Vibrio vulnificus infections in Louisiana so far in 2026.
• ▪Louisiana previously experienced a spike in Vibrio vulnificus infections in 2025, with at least 17 cases reported in the state.
• ▪The five Vibrio vulnificus deaths in Louisiana in 2026 represent a sharp rise from the state's previous 10-year average of seven cases and one death annually.

Vibrio vulnificus infection mechanisms

• ▪Vibrio vulnificus infections can occur when contaminated saltwater or brackish water enters an open wound, or when a person consumes raw or undercooked shellfish.
• ▪Vibrio vulnificus can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a severe and rare infection where the flesh around an open wound dies, leading to its description as a flesh-eating bacteria.
• ▪Vibrio vulnificus presence in coastal waters can increase after tropical storms and hurricanes as storm surges push seawater into freshwater environments.
• ▪Vibrio vulnificus bacteria live naturally in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers from May to October when water temperatures are warmer.

Infection symptoms

• ▪Vibrio vulnificus infections can cause vibriosis, which is marked by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and stomach cramps.
• ▪Initial symptoms of a Vibrio vulnificus skin infection include fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration, and discharge around the wound.
• ▪If Vibrio vulnificus enters the bloodstream, it can cause advanced illness marked by fever, chills, septic shock, low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions.

Mortality risk factors

• ▪According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in five people infected with Vibrio vulnificus die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.
• ▪Severe Vibrio vulnificus infections can progress rapidly and may require intensive care, antibiotics, surgery to remove dead tissue, or limb amputation.
• ▪All five individuals who died from Vibrio vulnificus infections in Louisiana in 2026 had pre-existing, underlying medical conditions.

High-risk medical conditions

• ▪Individuals with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, thalassemia, or those taking immune-suppressing medications face a significantly higher risk of severe complications from Vibrio vulnificus.
• ▪Individuals who recently had stomach surgery or take medications that reduce stomach acid are at an increased risk of contracting Vibrio vulnificus infections.

Prevention guidance for beachgoers

• ▪Health guidelines recommend avoiding raw oysters and other raw shellfish, wearing protective gloves when handling raw shellfish, and preventing cross-contamination of other foods.
• ▪To prevent infection, officials recommend covering open wounds with waterproof bandages if exposure to coastal waters or raw seafood is possible.
• ▪Health officials advise beachgoers to avoid entering warm saltwater or brackish water if they have any fresh cuts, scrapes, or open wounds.

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